Ethiopian Restaurant Lands in Adams Morgan, With Deal for Locals

(Updated at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday) Marinated raw beef, flaky pastries with chicken and other Ethiopian dishes now are coming out of the kitchen in a former Mexican eatery in Adams Morgan.

Ababa Ethiopian Restaurant opened in the former Casa Oaxaca space at 2106 18th St. NW today, with a deal for locals. Adams Morgan residents can get 20 percent off menu items for a month, owner Alem Kassaye said.

In addition to the raw beef called kitfo and the savory pastries known as sambussa, other food on the menu includes gomen besiga (Ethiopian beef and collard greens) and misser alicha (Ethiopian lentils).

“I’m excited about the neighborhood,” Kassaye said. “The people have been nice and helpful.”

The restaurant, which also occupies the space once used by Ethiopian eatery Addis Ababa, is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.